The summer transfer window may not be open yet, but Liverpool's business is well underway as they close in on their second signing so far.
With a deal for Fulham youngster Fabio Carvalho already wrapped up, he'll formally join on July 1, it is understood Liverpool are confident they will sign 18-year-old Calvin Ramsay from Aberdeen. The young right back will provide some much needed back up for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The Echo understands Ramsay was a target for a number of Premier League sides, along with clubs in both Germany and Italy. However, a deal worth £4million plus various add-ons is believed to be close.
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Ramsay is certainly one of the young shining stars in Scottish football and his impressive breakthrough season was capped with the SFWA's Young Player of the Year award. This term, he's made 33 appearances in all competitions with one goal and nine assists.
The youngster is an attacking threat, making him a solid understudy for Alexander-Arnold, a player he already looks up to. After claiming his SFWA award, Ramsay said in April: "On a personal note coming in for my first full season in professional football, I think I’ve done well.
“My dad Graham has helped me a lot as well as players like Alexander-Arnold, Kyle Walker, all those top players. I like to watch videos of them and try and base my game on them. But when I was younger growing up, my dad definitely helped me a lot to get to where I am.
“As a full-back, watching Trent and his crosses and his technical ability, if I can get to that level then it would be a bonus.”
There was little surprise at Aberdeen when some of Europe's top clubs started to show an interest in Ramsay as they believe he's in the 'elite upper bracket' for players in his position and age group. Club chairman Dave Cormack said in December, amid reports clubs were weighing up a move: "There’s not many right-backs like Calvin at that age doing what he does when you look at all the data. All these clubs look at the same systems.
“They will have seen the same things that we have – that he’s in the elite upper bracket for a young right back in Europe. Right up there across Europe, and they are seeing that.
“That’s why we believe there will be a lot of interest, although we have not had a call from anyone yet.”
For Ramsay, a move to Liverpool signals the opportunity to work under one of the best managers in world, along with one of the best right backs in the game in Alexander-Arnold. The 23-year-old registered 19 assists in all competitions for Liverpool last term, with two goals.
Ramsay first broke into the Aberdeen side towards the end of the 2020/21 campaign and last season he began to shine with stats that put him up there with some of the best in Europe. Dundee winger Niall McGinn played alongside Ramsay as he rose through the ranks and the Northern Ireland international expects the youngster to thrive in the Premier League.
McGinn told the Daily Record : “The sky’s the limit for Calvin. I have seen him develop as a young player coming in to be part of the first-team squad, training with them on a constant basis.
“Calvin has all the ability in the world so he just needs to listen to the right people, his team-mates and the experienced players in the group. As long as he is willing to learn and listen to team-mates – and the manager, obviously – then I am sure he will have no issues.
“If you go on to a big team like Liverpool, Leeds, whatever you are going to be working with good managers and coaches on a full-time basis where you have the best of the best of everything. So it is important for him to just take everything in his stride and not get excited too soon."
